When Alex Scott made his Guernsey debut against Phoenix Sports in front of a mere 55 fans in 2019, his manager at the time predicted, “we haven’t seen the best from this boy.”
That statement turned out to be something of an underestimation.
Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has just received his maiden call-up to the full England squad.
His rise from eighth-tier talent to possible international star is a proper throwback, a journey seldom told in the modern game.
Next stop? The World Cup?
“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a professional football player, let alone featuring in the Premier League and playing for England as well,” Scott said previously.
“It has been a crazy half-dozen years of my life, and circumstances have transformed drastically for me and my family.”
So in what way did Alex Scott, referred to affectionately as the ‘Grealish from Guernsey’, end up at this level?
Learning in non-league
Scott’s path in football has been far from a typical one.
He spent over four years in the Saints’ youth system starting at eight, leaving school early every Friday to travel by air from his island home on Guernsey to the south coast so he could attend training and play for the Saints’ youth teams.
Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they decided to let him go. Bournemouth were willing to offer him an option and he was on the Cherries’ books for a time, but, by the player’s own admission, his heart was not in it.
Instead, he chose to remain on the island and play for his hometown club.
“I wasn’t playing very well and traveling every week was starting to feel overwhelming,” he explained.
“All I desired to chill at my home with my friends at weekends because I missed almost several years of that experience. Getting that little bit of childhood back was something I really needed.
“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and playing island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably one of the most important factors that got me where I am today.”
At the age of 16, the teenager made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in the club’s records when he was introduced as a second-half replacement in their league fixture at Phoenix Sports.
“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was trying to work out how I could get him in the side because his talent is obvious,” manager the coach stated back then.
“Everyone’s now seen that – his possession of the ball is exceptional, the way he runs with the ball, he’s a class act.”
Making a comeback to the pro ranks
Second-tier club the Robins – owned by Guernsey resident their owner – had been tracking Scott’s development after an impressive start in adult football and gave him a try-out in December 2019.
“It was chaos,” said the player. “Day one I trained with the under-18s, the second day I was with the senior squad, which was a total surprise.
“On the Wednesday I featured for his local side in London, returned home and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. From that point a certainty for me to put pen to paper on a deal.”
In just 18 months, still some way short of his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.
Scott made eighty-three league appearances for the club while still a teenager, frequently being deployed as a wide defender – and occasionally in attack as a number 10 – such was his versatility and versatility. Even at that young age and playing out of position he was the standout performer.
With his ability to drive the ball up the pitch, and with his socks rolled down to his ankles, he earned the moniker ‘the Guernsey Grealish’, a nod to City and England playmaker Grealish.
At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season honour, was chosen in the division’s team of the year and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.
“Without question, I think he will represent his country and I think he will progress to the top of the sport,” Nigel Pearson, the player’s boss at the club, remarked previously.
Within three months after, he signed for the Cherries for a reported transfer fee of £25m.
Getting his big move
Scott experienced a challenging debut campaign with the Cherries, waiting until October to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the starting XI.
His second campaign was just as disrupted, this time by a knee operation which ruled him out for almost four months.
“There was quite a good run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” explained Scott.
“That felt like yet another obstacle and it was shaping up as quite a terrible start for the first five months.”
But he was then selected by England for the U21 Euros – and managed to regain fitness for the tournament.
He started five of the Young Lions’ six matches as they claimed victory in the competition in Slovakia, developing a formidable understanding in the middle with his teammate, who himself has gone on to impress for the first team under the national coach.
And he has begun the current campaign just as strongly for Bournemouth, playing in all matches to help them to fifth in the table.
“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player stated earlier this season.
“The responsibility is mine, I must continue developing as a footballer, maintain my love for football, improving day on day, and with luck I impress the national coach and get my chance.”
